beasts, men and gods-第8章

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s　head　and　turned　him　so　that　he　was　swimming　right　downstream。　　With　difficulty　I　reined　him　around　toward　the　shore　but　felt　now　that　his　force　was　gone。　　His　head　several　times　disappeared　under　the　swirling　surface。　　I　had　no　choice。　　I　slipped　from　the　saddle　and；　holding　this　by　my　left　hand；　swam　with　my　right　beside　my　mount；　encouraging　him　with　my　shouts。　　For　a　time　he　floated　with　lips　apart　and　his　teeth　set　firm。　　In　his　widely　opened　eyes　was　indescribable　fear。　　As　soon　as　I　was　out　of　the　saddle；　he　had　at　once　risen　in　the　water　and　swam　more　calmly　and　rapidly。　　At　last　under　the　hoofs　of　my　exhausted　animal　I　heard　the　stones。　　One　after　another　my　companions　came　up　on　the　shore。　　The　well…trained　horses　had　brought　all　their　burdens　over。　　Much　farther　down　our　colonist　landed　with　the　supplies。　　Without　a　moment's　loss　we　packed　our　things　on　the　horses　and　continued　our　journey。　　The　wind　was　growing　stronger　and　colder。　　At　the　dawn　of　day　the　cold　was　intense。　　Our　soaked　clothes　froze　and　became　hard　as　leather；　our　teeth　chattered；　and　in　our　eyes　showed　the　red　fires　of　fever：　but　we　traveled　on　to　put　as　much　space　as　we　could　between　ourselves　and　the　Partisans。　　Passing　about　fifteen　kilometres　through　the　forest　we　emerged　into　an　open　valley；　from　which　we　could　see　the　opposite　bank　of　the　Yenisei。　　It　was　about　eight　o'clock。　　Along　the　road　on　the　other　shore　wound　the　black　serpent…like　line　of　riders　and　wagons　which　we　made　out　to　be　a　column　of　Red　soldiers　with　their　transport。　　We　dismounted　and　hid　in　the　bushes　in　order　to　avoid　attracting　their　attention。

All　the　day　with　the　thermometer　at　zero　and　below　we　continued　our　journey；　only　at　night　reaching　the　mountains　covered　with　larch　forests；　where　we　made　big　fires；　dried　our　clothes　and　warmed　ourselves　thoroughly。　　The　hungry　horses　did　not　leave　the　fires　but　stood　right　behind　us　with　drooped　heads　and　slept。　　Very　early　in　the　morning　several　Soyots　came　to　our　camp。

〃Ulan？　　（Red？）〃　asked　one　of　them。

〃No！　No！〃　exclaimed　all　our　company。

〃Tzagan？　　（White？）〃　followed　the　new　question。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　the　Tartar；　〃all　are　Whites。〃

〃Mende！　　Mende！〃　they　grunted　and；　after　starting　their　cups　of　tea；　began　to　relate　very　interesting　and　important　news。　　It　appeared　that　the　Red　Partisans；　moving　from　the　mountains　Tannu　Ola；　occupied　with　their　outposts　all　the　border　of　Mongolia　to　stop　and　seize　the　peasants　and　Soyots　driving　out　their　cattle。　To　pass　the　Tannu　Ola　now　would　be　impossible。　　I　saw　only　one　way　to　turn　sharp　to　the　southeast；　pass　the　swampy　valley　of　the　Buret　Hei　and　reach　the　south　shore　of　Lake　Kosogol；　which　is　already　in　the　territory　of　Mongolia　proper。　　It　was　very　unpleasant　news。　　To　the　first　Mongol　post　in　Samgaltai　was　not　more　than　sixty　miles　from　our　camp；　while　to　Kosogol　by　the　shortest　line　not　less　than　two　hundred　seventy…five。　　The　horses　my　friend　and　I　were　riding；　after　having　traveled　more　than　six　hundred　miles　over　hard　roads　and　without　proper　food　or　rest；　could　scarcely　make　such　an　additional　distance。　　But；　reflecting　upon　the　situation　and　studying　my　new　fellow　travelers；　I　determined　not　to　attempt　to　pass　the　Tannu　Ola。　　They　were　nervous；　morally　weary　men；　badly　dressed　and　armed　and　most　of　them　were　without　weapons。　　I　knew　that　during　a　fight　there　is　no　danger　so　great　as　that　of　disarmed　men。　　They　are　easily　caught　by　panic；　lose　their　heads　and　infect　all　the　others。　　Therefore；　I　consulted　with　my　friends　and　decided　to　go　to　Kosogol。　　Our　company　agreed　to　follow　us。　　After　luncheon；　consisting　of　soup　with　big　lumps　of　meat；　dry　bread　and　tea；　we　moved　out。　　About　two　o'clock　the　mountains　began　to　rise　up　before　us。　　They　were　the　northeast　outspurs　of　the　Tannu　Ola；　behind　which　lay　the　Valley　of　Buret　Hei。


CHAPTER　XI

THE　BARRIER　OF　RED　PARTISANS


In　a　valley　between　two　sharp　ridges　we　discovered　a　herd　of　yaks　and　cattle　being　rapidly　driven　off　to　the　north　by　ten　mounted　Soyots。　　Approaching　us　warily　they　finally　revealed　that　Noyon　（Prince）　of　Todji　had　ordered　them　to　drive　the　herds　along　the　Buret　Hei　into　Mongolia；　apprehending　the　pillaging　of　the　Red　Partisans。　　They　proceeded　but　were　informed　by　some　Soyot　hunters　that　this　part　of　the　Tannu　Ola　was　occupied　by　the　Partisans　from　the　village　of　Vladimirovka。　　Consequently　they　were　forced　to　return。　　We　inquired　from　them　the　whereabouts　of　these　outposts　and　how　many　Partisans　were　holding　the　mountain　pass　over　into　Mongolia。　　We　sent　out　the　Tartar　and　the　Kalmuck　for　a　reconnaissance　while　all　of　us　prepared　for　the　further　advance　by　wrapping　the　feet　of　our　horses　in　our　shirts　and　by　muzzling　their　noses　with　straps　and　bits　of　rope　so　that　they　could　not　neigh。　It　was　dark　when　our　investigators　returned　and　reported　to　us　that　about　thirty　Partisans　had　a　camp　some　ten　kilometers　from　us；　occupying　the　yurtas　of　the　Soyots。　　At　the　pass　were　two　outposts；　one　of　two　soldiers　and　the　other　of　three。　　From　the　outposts　to　the　camp　was　a　little　over　a　mile。　　Our　trail　lay　between　the　two　outposts。　　From　the　top　of　the　mountain　one　could　plainly　see　the　two　posts　and　could　shoot　them　all。　　When　we　had　come　near　to　the　top　of　this　mountain；　I　left　our　party　and；　taking　with　me　my　friend；　the　Tartar；　the　Kalmuck　and　two　of　the　young　officers；　advanced。　　From　the　mountain　I　saw　about　five　hundred　yards　ahead　two　fires。　　At　each　of　the　fires　sat　a　soldier　with　his　rifle　and　the　others　slept。　　I　did　not　want　to　fight　with　the　Partisans　but　we　had　to　do　away　with　these　outposts　and　that　without　firing　or　we　never　should　get　through　the　pass。　　I　did　not　believe　the　Partisans　could　afterwards　track　us　because　the　whole　trail　was　thickly　marked　with　the　spoors　of　horses　and　cattle。

〃I　shall　take　for　my　share　these　two；〃　whispered　my　friend；　pointing　to　the　left　outpost。

The　rest　of　us　were　to　take　care　of　the　second　post。　　I　crept　along　through　the　bushes　behind　my　friend　in　order　to　help　him　in　case　of　need；　but　I　am　bound　to　admit　that　I　was　not　at　all　worried　about　him。　　He　was　about　seven　feet　tall　and　so　strong　that；　when　a　horse　used　to　refuse　sometimes　to　take　the　bit；　he　would　wrap　his　arm　around　its　neck；　kick　its　forefeet　out　from　under　it　and　throw　it　so　that　he　could　easily　bridle　it　on　the　ground。　　When　only　a　hundred　paces　remained；　I　stood　behind　the　bushes　and　watched。　　I　could　see　very　distinctly　the　fire　and　the　dozing　sentinel。　　He　sat　with　his　rifle　on　his　knees。　　His　companion；　asleep　beside　him；　did　not　move。　　Their　white　felt　boots　were　plainly　visible　to　me。　　For　a　long　time　I　did　not　remark　my　friend。　　At　the　fire　all　was　quiet。　Suddenly　from　the　other　outpost　floated　over　a　few　dim　shouts　and　all　was　still。　　Our　sentinel　slowly　raised　his　head。　　But　just　at　this　moment　the　huge　body　of　my　friend　rose　up　and　blanketed　the　fire　from　me　and　in　a　twinkling　the　feet　of　the　sentinel　flashed　through　the　air；　as　my　companion　had　seized　him　by　the　throat　and　swung　him　clear　into　the　bushes；　where　both　figures　disappeared。　In　a　second　he　re…appeared；　flourished　the　rifle　of　the　Partisan　over　his　head　and　I　heard　the　dull　blow　which　was　followed　by　an　absolute　calm。　　He　came　back　toward　me　and；　confusedly　smiling；　said：

〃It　is　done。　　God　and　the　Devil！　　When　I　was　a　boy；　my　mother　wanted　to　make　a　priest　out　of　me。　　When　I　grew　up；　I　became　a　trained　agronome　in　order　。　。　。　to　strangle　the　people　and　smash　their　skulls。　　Revolution　is　a　very　stupid　thing！〃

And　with　anger　and　disgust　he　spit　and　began　to　smoke　his　pipe。

At　the　other　outpost　also　all　was　finished。　　During　this　night　we　reached　the　top　of　the　Tannu　Ola　and　descended　again　into　a　valley　covered　with　dense　bushes　and　twined　with　a　whole　network　of　small　rivers　and　streams。　　It　was　the　headwaters　of　the　Buret　Hei。　　About　one　o'clock　we　stopped　and　began　to　feed　our　horses；　as　the　grass　just　there　was　very　good。　　Here　we　thought　ourselves　in　safety。　　We　saw　many　calming　indications。　　On　the　mountains　were　seen　the　grazing　herds　of　reindeers　and　yaks　and　approaching　Soyots　confirmed　our　supposition。　　Here　behind　the　Tannu　Ola　the　Soyots　had　not　seen　the　Red　soldiers。　　We　presented　to　these　Soyots　a　brick　of　tea　and　saw　them　depart　happy　and　sure　that　we　were　〃Tzagan；〃　a　〃good　people。〃

While　our　horses　rested　and　grazed　on　the　well…preserved　grass；　we　sat　by　the　fire　and　deliberated　upon　our　further　progress。　　There　developed　a　sharp　controversy　between　two　sections　of　our　company；　one　led　by　a　Colonel　who　with　four　officers　were　so　impressed　by　the　absence　of　Reds　south　of　the　Tannu　Ola　that　they　determined　to　work　westward　to　Kobdo　and　then　on　to　the　camp　on　the　Emil　River　where　the　Chinese　authorities　had　interned　six　thousand　of　the　forces　of　General　Bakitch；　which　had　come　over　into　Mongolian　territory。　　My　friend　and　I　with　sixteen　of　the　officers　chose　to　carry　through　our　old　plan　to　strike　for　the　shores　of　Lake　Kosogol　and　thence　out　to　the　Far　East。　　As　neither　side　could　persuade　the　other　to　abandon　its　ideas；　our　company　was　divided　and　the　next　day　at　noon　we　took　leave　of　one　another。　　It　turned　out　that　our　own　wing　of　eighteen　had　many　fights　and　difficulties　on　the　way；　which　cost　us　the　lives　of　six　of　our　comrades；　but　that　the　remainder　of　us　came　through　to　the　goal　of　our　journey　so　closely　knit　by　the　ties　of　devotion　which　fighting　and　struggling　for　our　very　lives　entailed　that　we　have　ever　preserved　for　one　another　the　warmest　feelings　of　friendship。　　The　other　group　under　Colonel　Jukoff　perished。　　He　met　a　big　detachment　of　Red　cavalry　and　was　defeated　by　them　in　two　fights。　　Only　two　officers　escaped。　　They　related　to　me　this　sad　news　and　the　details　of　the　fights　when　we　met　four　months　later　in　Urga。

Our　band　of　eighteen　riders　with　five　packhorses　moved　up　the　valley　of　the　Buret　Hei。　　We　floundered　in　the　swamps；　passed　innumerable　miry　streams；　were　frozen　by　the　cold　winds　and　were　soaked　through　by　the　snow　and　sleet；　but　we　persisted　indefatigably　toward　the　south　end　of　Kosogol。　　As　a　guide　our　Tartar　led　us　confidently　over　these　trails　well　marked　by　the　feet　of　many　cattle　being　run　out　of　Urianhai　to　Mongolia。


CHAPTER　XII

IN　THE　COUNTRY　OF　ETERNAL　PEACE


The　inhabitants　of　Urianhai；　the　Soyots；　are　proud　of　being　the　genuine　Buddhists　and　of　retaining　the　pure　doctrine　of　holy　Rama　and　the　deep　wisdom　of　Sakkia…Mouni。　　They　are　the　eternal　enemies　of　war　and　of　the　shedding　of　blood。　　Away　back　in　the　thirteenth　century　they　preferred　to　move　out　from　their　native　land　and　take　refuge　in　the　north　rather　than　fight　or　become　a　part　of　the　empire　of　the　bloody　conqueror　Jenghiz　Khan；　who　wanted　to　add　to　his　forces　these　wonderful　horsemen　and　skilled　archers。　　Three　times　in　their　history　they　have　thus　trekked　northward　to　avoid　struggle　and　now　no　one　can　say　that　on　the　hands　of　the　Soyots　there　has　ever　been　seen　human　blood。　　With　their　love　of　peace　they　struggled　against　the　evils　of　war。　　Even　the　severe　Chinese　administrators　could　not　apply　here　in　this　country　of　peace　the　full　measure　of　their　implacable　laws。　　In　the　same　manner　the　Soyots　conducted　themselves　when　the　Russian　people；　mad　with　blood　and　crime；　brought　this　infect